Machine-tool control.



A. L. DE LEEUW.

MACHINE TOOL CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.5, I915.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHE 1.. I

INVEN-TOR; wwfihzfir A TTORNE Y3;

IVITNILSSE SY:

A. L. .DE LEEUW.

MACHINE TOOL CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5. 915.

1,166,974. V Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l n 1| I i IN l/EN TOR Y Mum/mus.

A; L. DE LEEUW, MACHINE TOOL CONTROL. APPLICATIOQ mo lAN.5,19l5.

' 1,166,974. Patented Jan. 4, 1916';

'INVEN TOR.

A TTORNE 3,

Original application filed February 19, 1913', Serial No. 749,292. 1 Divided and this application filed January- 5,1915. Serial No. 555.

A DOLPH L. DE LEEUW, F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, A SSIGNOB TO THE CINCINNATI MILLING MACHINE OF OHIO.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, ADOLPH L. DE LEEUw,

a citizen of the United States, and residing 'at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Machine-Tool Control, of whichthe following specification-is a full disclosure; I

This invention deals with an organization, and in its preferred more concrete aspect, 1t proposesan electro-mechan1 machines, screw machines, etc.

One object within the contemplation of '7 this invention-is to render available a control;system that is readily applicable to .various': machines to effect a. more complete regulation of the automatic operations there I of, as well as more efliciently toaenable the various distinctive speeds of the cycle of I vmovements of a given machine element to be moderated or amplified in duration, and to] providesfor a' wide range of alteration in the timing or sequence ofspeed changes and reversals" in the cycle.

Anothenobj ect is' to devise an arrangementwhereby-the table as well as theJcutter so zbolt'edthereon have been subjected to the will come toajstop after all of the pieces 'action of the cutter,-so that new work'may be boltedtorthe table without liability of injuryfto ,tli'eattendant-by contact with a ro-' attendant without necessitating complex and tating cutterii A more specific object in this connection completed its lreturn -istroke is ready .againto'adva'nc. r

system affording the attendant a wide range of adjustability; enabling him in the simplest possible manner, and without drawing upon a high order of skill, or'ofunderstand: ing, to set the mechanism for automaticallyperforming such more or less complex c- 1 tions as may be best adapted foraccomplish- -Work in the ing a given amount of useful shortest aggregate t1me.-

Another object is to create... an automatic' Specification of Letters Patent improved; control-system for an operating mechanical.-

Another, object is establish a control;

MAcnI NE-Too coNrnoL.

Patented Jan. 4, 191a.

impaired-0r, not be required, the attendant will nevertheless be enabled to controlfthe machinebyoperating hand-levers with all the facility and conwenience of conventional machines.

Another object is to formulate a controlsystem in which 'purely mechanical features and actions are coordinated with purely electrical instrumentalities and effects to the end that the automatic capacities of the mechanism may be promoted and rendered more eflicient and adaptable to meet the va- Another object is to provide a mechanical organization in which'a work or to'ol supportingeelement may be caused automatie cally to progress through-a predetermined cycle of operations, at times under the ac tu ation of a high-power or major drivingmeans, and at other times being propelled by a low-power or auxiliary. driving means;

and to, do so in such a way as will enable the-v 7-5 rious working conditions that" may from time'to time ar1se.' a

sequence andduration of such operations to be easily adjusted and determined by the costly instrumentalities."

A further Purpose togde ise an instru mentality,-largely electricalin nature, capable of being adapted to existing machines" withoutnecessarily involving extensive all 'terations or reconstructions as to such ma: 7 chines, and to relate the electrlcal control to enhance the automatic capacities thereof, .f-"

features to the purely mechanical controlfeatures in such a way that, should the former cease to function, the latter will stilloperate. u g I An object more especially inhering to the noids, may be made available in such away that theybeexcited for brief periods only, as solely when effecting the shift,

thereby avoiding heating of the. coils, waste of current, excessive sparking,'and uncertain or tardyiactions.

Another object is to devise a clutch-shiftmechanism embodying solenoids as actuating means and mechanical elements as means for operatively applying the mag- -netic power to effect the shifting of clutches, and to arrange and relate the parts in such a manner that the initial part of the move ment will be induced by the magnetic power by alternate fast and slow travel; may have a rapid continuous return stroke; and by merely throwing a switch lever its return stroke may be changed in character to correspond exactly with and duplicate the cycle of its advance stroke.

Another object. is to make a machine tool more wieldy in operation and manipulation and better responsive to the requirements of the highest order of shop efliciency; and to do so by utilizing the main or primary power for more deliberately propelling the parts against the greater resistance arising during the tooling periods, and utilizing a secondary source of power, such as lowpower electric motor, for effecting the more rapid but comparatively free movements of the purely positioning operations, and incidentally providing for throwing the motor into short-circuit to form a dynamic brake operative during certain stages in the cycle of operations quickly to bring the moving parts to a more orless cushioned standstill and avoid undue shock or strain.

Another object is to enhance the efliciency of machine-tools while yet promoting the safety of the same. I

Another object is to design "an electrical control-system for a machine tool that will I be extremely simple in point of installation,involving but few and simple parts;

which will be extremely handy "from a manipulative standpoint; which, by the mere throwing of a switch can effect a radical change in the operation of the machine;

which will afford every facility in adjustment and permit of efiecting a wide range of variation in the automatic operations of the machine; and which may be easily modified for various types of machines and conditions of usage.

Other objects and advantages will be in iaeeem part indicated in the following description, and in part rendered apparent in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so this invention. Fig. 2 is a.front elevation of the said machine. Fig. 3 is a detail section through the mechanical features of the solenoid-operated reve'rser D. Fig. 4: is a front elevation of the main switch C. Fig; 5 is an axial section thereof Fig. 6 shows the detailed relationship of the three switch disks on the switch shaft. Fig. 7 is a section through the motor and solenoid switch used with the clutch-switch B. Fig. 8 is an interior elevation thereof. Fig. 9 is a section'through the main drive magnetic clutch. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic wiring indicating the electrical relationship existing between the various elements of this invention. 5

Continuing now by way of a more detailed description of the shown exemplification of this invention, it may be preliminarily noted that, in machine-tool operations, considerable time is usually .lost in effecting the contact between the tool and the work. The two will in the first instance be distanced apart, and to save time it is necessary that eitherthe tool or the work, as the case may be, shall be moved to the other as rapidly asis practical, but thereafter'it is necessary that the rate of travel shallbe reduced to a point corresponding to the requirements of the ensuing tooling operation. In the case of a milling machine, for example, the work is bolted to a table that travels with relation to a fixed rotary cutter and either by reason of the number of separate pieces of work, or by reason of the broken or interrupted surface of a given piece of work, the time of tooling could be reduced in the aggregate if the table could be'caused to travel faster and slower at intervals, corresponding with the duration and frequency of the mere traveling and the actual tooling operations. This class of work calls for'a'n intermittent forward propulsion of the table and a quick continuous return, i. 0., a forward series of alternating fast-idle travels and slow-working feeds, which series (in the case of a reciprocating table) may be succeeded by a quick return providing a time interval sufiicing for the replacement of the workon the table.

In another Instance, the millingoperation maybe practically rythmatic, and the table may reciprocate from one extreme to the other in such a" Way as to duplicate its cycle of movements during both the forward and the backward swing. As the tooling operation is necessarily of a relatively I long duration, the attendant may be enabled to clamp another piece of work to the advancing end of the table, while the piece.

is being tooled; but to avoid loss of time, it is necessary, when the table reverses its direction of travel, to cause it to travel rapidly during the first half of its stroke (while the tool is returning over the finished plece or through the distance it has just traveled while cutting it) and then the speed of the table must be reduced to thedegree required for the tooling operations, since the tool is now about to start cutting the last added piece of work,-and so on in succession.- It will thus be seen thatthe travel of the carriage may be resolved into What are really positioning movements and also into What are really feeding movements. Technically, the tooling movement is known as a'feed and the positioning or non-tooling movement is termed a traverse or a quick-traverse. Now this invention proposes an arrangement such that-the table, support .or-carriage for the tool or the work, as the case may be, may be caused to feed, to position, reverse, or to advance or retreat in any ration of operations desired.

sents the basei' and 71 the column of a machine tool (inthis case a milling machine) and 72 indicates the knee thereof, which is adjustable vertically to bring" the work nearer the cutter. On this knee is a saddle 73 slidably adjustable in the direotion'of the axis of the rotating cutter to position the work laterally and superposing this saddle is the main table'or work-support 74 that is arranged slidably'to reciprocate onthetsaddle 73 in a direction transverse'to the axis of the spindle supporting the rotary cutter. This spindle is here indicated by 7 5, and it carries a suitable cutter-76 Iirthis instance, the machine receives the major or primary driving power froma pulley 77 on a suitable countershaft 78 through a belt 79 thatxtravels around the periphery of a pulley "80 that is journaled on a stationary nonrotatable member fixed at one side of the column of the machine. Through an intervening nagnetic'cl-utch E, the pulley 80 is sequence or du-.

given a driving connection, through suitable gearing 81 with the spindle whereby the latter is positively rotated at the speed prop-. erly corresponding with the dlameter andcharacter of the milling cutter and the class of cutting performed 'thereby. Through a second line of gearing 82 and the flexibleby Turning now to Figs. 1 and 2, represhaft 83, the power pulley is (enabled; to be brought (through clutch mechanism D and B subsequently to be described) into propelling relation with the table or support 74, whereby the latter may be caused to travel at any predetermined slow rate of travel or so-called fee-d (thespeed of which may be varied as usual 1n accordance with the character of the work to be performed by the milling cutter) through a mechanical application of the major or. primary power, The parts thus described are actuated by the major or primary power and perform the slower but more laborious operations arising when the machine is actually tooling the work, but there are certain other movements that are of .a purely positioning nature, and the aggregate efliciency of the ma chine thereforeis dependent upon the speed at which these more or less idle or waste movements are carried out Preferably this invention proposes auxiliary; or secondary power for the purpose of obtaimng these more rapid but non-working movements and, to that end, an auxiliary pulley 85'will be arranged in unitary relation with the main pulley 80, as by providing the latter with a suitable groove for receiving a small belt 84 which rides 'over a small-diameter pulley a: which is journaled to the column in a suitable manner below the main-pulley so as to be driven atia relatively high speed thereby. The quick-traverse of the table is effected power derived from this lower auxiliary pul ey a: through suitable means, Thus, an

electric motor F (see Fig. 2) may be mounted on the machine so as to have a mechanical driving connection with the table or support been described. g The following detailed analysis of this system may be more easily followed by first observing that, among other actions, it is effective to cause the spindle andv the worksupport to be simultaneously moved in v proper feeding-relation for milling the work (deriving the power from a main drive);

then at another time to disconnect the worksupport from the main or high-power drive pulley 80, as has and propel it rapidly by power derived from an auxiliary or low-power motor while in the meantime permitting the cutter-to be continuously but idly driven by the main power; and at another time automatically todisconnect both thespindle and the work- 'support from the main drive, while-making 4 -'provision whereby a hand lever may then cause the auxiliary motor to return the support to its initial position, and incidentally, .to arrange this hand lever so that while 1t is operative during the returning interval to keep-the motor in action, still its use will not enable the attendant to start up the cutter by connecting it with either source of power and thus avoid danger.

propelling positions, when desired. This switch in the so-called neutral position opens the magnetic-clutch E and thus disconnects the power from the machine, and at the same time, it short circuits the auxiliary motor through enough resistance to enable it to act 1 as a cushioned dynamic brake to quickly stop the support. .In its normal acting position, it connects the motor circuit with the source of electricity, so as to enable the current to flow through the motor, unless its circuit is elsewhere opened by' another means B, to rotate it in. a given direction (which under certain circumstances may be determined by a second revers'er D) and in this-position the switch energizes the main magnetic-clutch to drive the spindle of the machine and (under certain circumstances) also the feed mechanism of the traveling support. Ina third or hand-reother devices of the system will be nullified verse-position, this-multiple switch C effects a current reversal in the circuit of the auxiliary motor,'and at the same time leaves the magnetic clutch still deenergized and insures that the automatic capacities of the so as not to interfere with the return under hand control. The switch in the preferred embodiment of this invention is thrown into this positiononly by a hand operation, but irrespective of whether it is thrown by hand or by a trip mechanism, its eflect will be to cause-the table to execute a return stroke while the spindle is stopped. This switch C is shown positioned on the machine by mg. 2, and 1s shown in structural detailby Figs. 4, 5 and 6. It comprises a cylindrical box C v having a rear end-wall b adapting it to bebolted to a part of the machine adjacent the reciprocating work support, and

having in its lower part an inlet 0 for the electric wires. The front end-wall d is removable and, like the rearlend-wall b, is

centrally perforated to provide bearings for the shaft '6 that carries and enables the i knife-supporting disks 7, g and n to be r0 tatedfrom the intermediate position toward the right or left to close the gaps in certain circuits. These disks are of insulating ma-.

terial, keyed to the shaft 6, and each carries a pair of diametrically opposed segmentalshaped knives; the knives 2 and 'w on the disk f being plain and closing the gap 3641 in the circuit ofthe clutch-switch B,

as well as the gap 3738 in the circuit of the magnetic clutch E, when rotated to the .left. The knives o, and u of the disk g, and the knives 0 and i of the disk 71., have inwardly radiating portions forming springfingers that participate only in short circuiting the motor to form the dynamic brake.

Adjacent each of the rotatable-disks f, g andn are stationary insulating supports 7, g and n which serve to position circuit terminal contacts as follows. The support 7 has bolted to it .in the position shown, the terminals 36 and 41 which'form the gap indicated by 364l on the wiring diagram of Fig. 10 which opens the circuit of the magnetic clutch, E. Oppositely located are also terminals 37 and 38 forming the gap 37-38 of the clutch-switch B. WVheh the shaft 6 is turned 'to the left, these circuits may be closed, but when it is positioned as shown (neutral) they are open. Similarly, the stationary support g carries a terminal-1 that forms the gap 13 with the terminal 3; and it also carries the terminal 8 that forms the ap 89 with the terminal 9';-which are both closed by the knives 'v and u when they are to the left. (Note: terminals 9 and 9' are connected permanently together; and so are terminals 1, 1,.l, etc.). Support g also carries the'terminal'50 that forms the gap 50-3'with terminal 3, and also it carries terminal 1 that forms the gap 1"8 with terminal 8, which gaps are closed when the disk g is in neutral position. Support 9 also carries terminal 3 forming gap 3-7 with terminal 7 and it also carries termimil 8 forming gap 8 9 with terminal 9,

which gaps are closed when the disk 9 has been turned totheright from'its neutral position, In like manner, support 91 carries a termnial 6 that'forms the gap 6-7 with terminal 7, and it also carries the terminal 2 that forms gap 2.4 with terminal 4, which gaps are both closed when knives o and i are to the left. So also, support 11. carries a terminal 48, forming gap 486 with terminal 6; and it carries terminal '5. forming gap 5-4 with "terminal 4;

both of which gaps are closed when the disk n is in neutral position. Again, support a carries terminal 6' forming gap 6-1 with terminal 1; and it carries terminal 2 forming gap 2-4 with terminal 4; both of which gaps" are closed when disk n is turned to the right from its neutral position. This switch is so designed that it may be automatically released by the table and enabled to spring from either the; right or the left into its normal or intermediate position. On the shaft 6 is a handle 86 whereby it may be set by n 11 .of

hand either to the right of the neutral positioii "to obtain a travel of the table to the a result of the impact of a dog 92 adjustable along the table with the cone shaped projection 93 on one arm of the said triplever 87.

To causethe shaft e, to turn to its normal.

or neutral position whenever the trip-lever .is actuated, an arm 94 terminates between two plungers 95 and 96 that are each urged by springs 97 and 98 toward the vertical center-line until they are limited in movegg ment by the stop or abutment 99 which is of the same size as the rounded end of the arm 94, and thus the switch will always be resiliently urged toward its neutral position. The solenoid-operated fast-and-slow clutch ,5 switch B is shown arranged at the junction of the support-propelling screw with both the major-power and the auxiliarymotor. Inthe preferred embodiment of this system, themotor at this junction is in permanent mechanical connection with the ultimate support-feedingelements, but the arrangement also enables the power to be additionallymechanically connected or disconnected with the same. This device also controls the circuit of the motor, and is adapted to open such circuit to deenergize the motor, so as to enable it to run idly when theimajor power is mechanically connected positively to feed the support. It also may close its portion of the ,motors circuit, so that the 'motor may be energized by throwing the main switch 0 into direct or reverse driving position at certain operative periods. Under certain circumstances shortly to be explained, this clutch-switch B may also energize an auxiliary reverse device, so that,

without moving the main switch C, the electric'motor will be electrically reversed, as well as the mechanical dfivingconnection between. the'major power and thetra'veling support. This clutch-switch B, in the 'shown' embodimentof this inventio1i,'is normally operated by electrical means only, and is not intended-to be actuated in a purely mechani- '55 cal way by direct action of abutments on the traveling support, but it is expressly arranged so that, if for any reason the operating solenoids should fail to function, it may then be actuated ,by the attendant, or mechanically, Ly means of the handle with which it'is'furnished as shown. It is fur ther noteworthy that, in the ordinary use of the machine, the clutch switch B may be momentarily moved by hand (against the the solenoids) for the purposeof "and knife 6 closes gap 33 -34.

-'the motor, but this invention conceives an moving the table to adjust its position. This I device is shown in detailed construction by Figs. 2 and 7 and it comprises a rock shaft 100 actuated either by the handle 101'.or by the plungers of the solenoids m or -p, as by y means of the double'bell-crank 102 and the link103, or other suitable mechanicalconnections; This rock-shaft is kept-in one or the other of its two extreme positions by meansof the spring pressed bevel pin 104 coacting with a suitable cam 105 on such rock-shaft. A forked arm 106 extends from the rock-shaft and slides a clutch member L 106 that" is splined to the feed screw .107 and, in the position given it by the solenoid 30 p,- it engages the bevel pinion 108 driven by the prlmary power through a suitable gear train 109 and thus clutches such major power directly to the feed screw. The clutch collar 106 -alsohas a tongue and slot connection with the pinion 110 that is driven by the auxiliary low power electric motor through the gear trainlll. This connection 'is preferably permanent so that the motor is constantlyin mechanical connection with 96 the feed screw 107 and may thus be, brought 1 into actual propelling relation ,with the; table by merely energizing it electrically. To do this by the automatic action of this device, a switch is actuated by shaft .100 which not only controls the circuit of the motor, but also the circuits 0 the solenoids p and m as well as the reverse box D under certain conditlons. 1 This switchmay be constructed v afterthe lines of the main switch and may consist of a casing 112 adapted to be bolted to the machine, and having a cover plate 113. Secured to the shaft within the casing is a knife-carrying disk 8 adapted to be partially rotated to the right and to the left. This disk 8 carries two knives b and'b Adjacent the disk is a stationary support 8 'nals 33 and 34 which form'.the gap 33-34.

When the shaft is turned to theleft, gap

43.-44 is closed by knife b but when'it is to the right, knife '1) closes the I gap 1*f-1 115 The clutch mechanism above described obtains slow feeds by clutching in the powerand obtains fast drives by energizing organization combining with the electrical operative elements also mechanloal'stops au-,

'tomatically operated by the table-adapted to obtain fast and slow speeds independently of the auxiliary motor by resorting to mech 12 anism such as-that disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 1,116,03-1 granted 1N0), J 3, 1914.

' The supportactuated contact device Ajl' is a two-pole switchconstructed to be thrown alternately into one or the other of its two positions by successively contacting with dogs ad ustably spaced on the travelmg support or by being turned backward and forward by a single dog. This device determines the position of the switch clutch B and (when the auxiliary reverse Dis divorced from the system) it ultimately determines in one position that the support shall feed slowly by the major power, and in the other position that the support shall travel rapidly by the auxiliary motor. \Vhen the -ally mounted on a part of the machine so 'it a quarter-turn.

as to be positioned adjacent the reciproeating support, so that a dog 116, may be caused to impact one of its vanes and give This star-wheel carries an electrical contact arm a electrical connection with the lead from 25 by contactingterminals 26 and 26', and is adapted to each of the odd quarter-turns to contact say with the terminal 28 and at each of the even quarter-turns to contact With the other terminal 40. The dogs used for quarter-turning this device may for intermittent milling all be rigid with the support so as all to impact it in succession and turn it each time during the advance, and reversely turn it during the retreat when it does not function.

For continuous milling, the intermediate dog will be rigid, but the dogs 118 at each end of the strokev may be of the click or ratchet type, each swinging freely toward the middle dog, but neither swinging away from it, sothat each will give the star-wheel a quarter-turn on the first impact, but upon the immediate reversal and return will swing past such wheel without turning it backward.

The solenoid operated main power and motor reverser D is adapted to be actuated by hand in the manner now customary with conventional machines for the purpose of reversing the direction of drive from the main power, and it also is adapted to be electrically connected into the system, whereby it may be operated automatically to reverse the direction of drive from the main power and simultaneously to reverse the direction of the current then passing through the motor circuit so that the motor will run reversely, in correspondence with the then prevailing direction of power drive. A hand operated switch 59 is all that is rea suitable type intervenes between this shaft that always is in momma quired to introduce this reverse device D into or out of the system, and the effect of introducing it into the system is materially to alter the ultimate effect of the device A, in that the latter, instead of producing alternately fast and slow travels, of the support in the same direction, as formerly, will now produce a fast feed for a distance to the right, then a slow feed continued to the right, then'a reverse fast feed to the left, then a slow feed continued to theleft, then a reverse fast feed to the right, and so on throughout the cycle. The structural details of. this reverse device D will be readily understood by referring to igs. 2 and 3, in which 120 indicates a shaft journaled in the reverse box 121 and receiving its drive from the major or 'primary power through the flexible shaft 83. Reversing mechanism of 120 and the train of gearing 109 that connects with the feed screw, as has already been described. As exemplifying such reversing mechanism, gears 122 and 123 are loosely journaled on a secondparallel shaft 124: which carries a gear directly meshing with the train 109. To enable either gear 122 or 123 to be locked to the shaft 101, a suitable .clutch collar 125 is splined to the shaft 121 and is adapted to reciprocate to clutch either gear 122 or 123 to such shaft. This clutch member 125 is in turn actuated by anarm extending from the rock shaft 126 and this rock shaft is in turn actuated in three independent ways; 2'. 6., by a Lhandwc lever, by an automatic mechanical stop and by an electrical contact system. Thus, a plunger 12'? actuated up and down by dogs 128 on the table is racked to a gear shaft 129 to rock the same, and this gear shaft may in 5 like manner be rocked by similar plungers extending from dilferent parts of the machine after the manner disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 973,766, of October 25, 1910, and others. This gear shaft 110 129 may be similarly actuated in a non-automatic Way by the hand lever 130 the effect of so actuating this shaft is to rock the shaft 126 through the gear segment 131, and the spring presseddouble-acting cam device 132 5 insures that the parts will assume positions only at the extremity of their strokes thereby preventing any erratic action when the parts are automatically moved. The rock shaft 126 is also actuated by solenoids ar- 2 ranged in any suitable manner. For example such shaft may carry a rocking beam lever 133 actuated by plunger armatures extending into solenoids 1 and Z so that when one or the other of these solenoids is enerized in the manner herein disclosed, the shaft 126 will throw'the clutch sleeve 125 into a direct or reversing position. It may be noted that gear 122 has a direct drive with a gear fast to the shaft 120 Whereas gear 123 receives its drive through an intermediate idler 134 so that gear 1:22 will rotate in one direction and gear123 in another, thus enabling the direction of drive to be reversed. The gears are so constructed in this organization that in reversing the speeds are unchanged.

The main magnetic clutch E intervenes between the source of the primary power and the driving element for the spindle and the table or support, respectively. When this clutch is operated by suitably throwing the switch C, the main power is divorced from the machine so that the spindle ceases to turn and the table or support reciprocates only by reason of its connection with the auxiliary motor, so that conditions of complete safety prevail in the machine, The structural details of this device clearly appear in Fig. 9 in which 135 indicatesv a driving shaft which will be geared to the spindle, etc. The pulley 80 is journaled on a part 136 that may be stationary and it has an annular flange 137 which is adapted to be magnetically clutched to the driving shaft as follows p ,A. magnet-frame 138 is splined to the shaft, and has an annular recess in which is seated the magnetizing coil 139 and two annular split clamp rings 1&0 and 1 11 are adjustably screw-threaded tothe periphery of the magnet frame 138, so that the one ring 1 10 may bear against the side of the flange 137. The clamp plate 142 is mounted on the other side-of the annular flange 137 and is retained against rotating by the bolts 1 13 and is normally maintained by' spring pressure away from the magnet and into frictional abutment with the stationary part 14%, so as also to press the other annular ring 141 against and into frictional contact with the fixed portion 145 of the frame of the machine, and thus bring the shaft 135 to a stop. These pressures resultfrom the springs 146 that are seated in sockets in the magnet 138. When, however, the coil is energized by means of current received from the two brushes 1 17 and 148, the plate 142 is drawn up so as to clamp'the flange 137 between it and the other ring 1 10. These rings, being adjustable, facilitate taking up any wear in this device.

Operation: Suppose it is desired to mill several pieces of work bolted in successive order to the table. This may be done by I advancing the table rapidly until the first piece is broughtto the tool; then slowly until it has been surfaced then again skipping rapidly to the next piece; then slowly feeding until that piece has also been finished; and ,so on until the last piece has been finished when the table must be stopped (all by automatic action) to enable the various pieces to be replaced, and then the table should permit of being rapidly n'ection between the primary C when all of the pieces have been finished,

and it is desired to stop the table at the end of its forward as well as return movement. Assume switch A to be connecting terminals 26 and 4C0; and clutch-switch B to be connecting contacts 1 and 1 and main switch C to be in neutral position, and switch 59 open. The magnetic clutch is now deenergized, and the main power thus disconnected and the motor is also deenergized. Now, to start the table rapidly to bring the tool into contact with the first piece, the main switch C isinitially thrown to the left or anticlockwise by hand. This at once closes the circuit fromthe mains through the magnetic clutch, and establishes driving con power'and the machine, thus starting the spindle and the driving system extending therefrom to the clutch switch B, which, now, however, is in a position such that the auxiliary motor alone is in a mechanical driving connection with the table or support. The motor circuit is now established as follows :57 1 2-i1556-07.581O- r11 13motor14-16-1171v3-20 8u924139. The motor thus goes lefthanded (131 1) and drives the table rapidly forward to the left until the first dog gives a quarter turn to the switch A, setplaced at intervals on the table,

ting it in vertical position, whereupon conthus deenergizing the motor (but not me chanically disconnecting it) and at the same time mechanically connecting the primary power with the table or support to establish a slow feeding propulsion thereof. This slowfeeding continues until the first piece of work has been tooled, whereupon another dog impacts the switch A and again gives it a quarter turn once more bringing it horizontally and establishing electrical contact with the terminal -10. A current now flows from 25 26-a-1013-Z)'11-60 l5- through solenoid m to 4631-3237 w-38 and 39 to the lead again. This energizes solenoid m and again throws switch 13 back clockwise to its original position declutching the power feed .and closing the motor circuit through 1 and 1 thus energizing the motor and causing it to move the table rapidly. This cycle will be repeated as often as there are separate pieces of work on the table until finally the last piece will have been milled and the table will have started rapidly or slowly as the case may be de-' pending upon whether or not a dog is positioned at the point where the tool left the work for the last time, and the table will travel until the stop dog contacts the release pawl of the main switch C and allows it to spring it into a neutral position, whereupon the motor circuit will be opened between 37 and 38, and the magnetic clutch will be deenergized by opening gap 364:1 in the circuit, thus bringing the entire machine to a standstill. The attendant will now remove the work, whereupon the table or work support is now ready to be brought to its initial starting position to bolt on unfinished pieces, and this is done (without energizing the magnetic clutch to start the spindle) by the hand operation of throwing the main switch C to the right thereby establishing a circuit in a reverse direction through the armature of the motor as follows :57-1 1 2' 4.55-6 O 1'17l1614:13-- 11 7"1058-7 o 3208'u/ 9' 2althus turning the motor reversely (14,13) and causing the. table to travel rapidly to its starting position whereupon a second stop dog Will throw the switch G into neutraltposition to short circuit the motor on its own circuit through enough resistance 49 as will cause the table to come to a somewhat cushioned stop, the circuit now being as follows 484950 Q) 3208 u 1 5ll7 1'l61'-l13l1 7" 1058 5-2 l:..556O l8.

By permanently maintaining the mechanical connection between the motor and the support, instead of unclutching it during the slow power feed, the structure is simplified and made more reliable, and when the motor is to be converted into a driver for the support, its momentum is already established and there is no shock or halt in its picking up speed, nor does the current have to build 111;) the motor to the extent that would be necessary were it initially stationary. It need not, however, be so connected and if desired a clutch may be intervened between it and the support.

Alternative operation In the above described operation, the attendant did not bolt new work to the table or support while the tooling of the other pieces was in progress but waited until the machine had been brought to a standstill. In machining certain classes of work, especially with' larger pieces, the too-ling period is longer than the time required for removing and replacing the work. For such .cases, this invention pro poses an automatic regulation that enables the'attenda'nt to keep the machine in prac- {55 tically continuous milling, and this is done merely by closing the hand switch 59 without in any manner altering or disturbing any of the other settings of the machine, except in using a fixed intermediate dog for retarding the speed at a station usually midway the stroke ofthe support, and using two additional pivoted ratchet dogs in positions corresponding with the outermost edges of the pieces to be alternately milled, to effect a reversal and speed increase at such points. The effect of doing this will now be described in detail.

Assume the table to be at the right hand extremity of its stroke and that it has two pieces of work bolted to it, the one at the left being finished and the other at the right being unfinished. The cutter will then be located at the extreme left hand end of the finished piece of work and, efficiently to bring it into contact with theunfinished piece of work, it is necessary to move the table rapidly about half-way its stroke to the left, causing the cutter rapidly to travel vmotor circuit through gap 1*-1 and declutching the primary power. The contact switch A is now horizontal and connects terminal 40.

After quickly completing the half stroke to the left, the intermediate rigidutable dog trips A to vertical position closing the gap 2628 and energizing solenoid p which in turn throws the 'clutch switch B to the left, thus opening the motor circuit and mechanically clutching in the primary power which now feeds the table slowly throughout its last half stroke to the left until a pivoted dog again trips A through a quarter turn so as to .complete the circuit from the mains to the terminal 40. Since. the hand switch 59 stands permanently closed and since the gap 4344, is closed in the present position of the clutch switch 13, one of the reverse box solenoids is energized (in this instance the coil r through the circuit 2526a 4O-43b 446O6l6216364- 1*-65-.6632-3 7w3 8-39) and simultaneously the clutch switch solenoid m is energized. In actual practice, the reverse box solenoids will be so constructed that the one energized immediately following the closing of the gap 26'40 will be enabled to set in motion the reverse mechanism for the p'rimary power (which also reverses the circuit through the motors armature) before the solenoid m has completely thrown the switch clutch B so that the movements of do not whendenergized ofi'er anyresistance to or' interfere with their actuationliy hand the parts will be so timed and their momentums will so actthat'there will be no chatter or reflex action. When the coil 1' (changving to right drive) has been energized as stated, it reverses the motor circuit by closing the gaps 12-67 'and 19-'-15 While opening the gaps 11.1O and '1 6-17 so that the 8-u9.24-39. The motor now being removed, (14-43) the table will run rapidly to the right for the first half. stroke,

whereupon the end pivoted dog will ineffectively swing back over the star-wheel and the middlerigid {dog will again trip it backward a quarter turn, thus once more bringing A to a vertical position closing the gap 26-428 and energizing solenoid p which thus throws the clutch switch B anti-clockwise to connect in the power-feed and open the motor-circuit. This is accomplished without energizing either of' the reverse 'box 'so that the cutter will now be the last half stroketo the right I solenoids and hence the drive will not be reversed though it will be reduced in speed milling the work during of the table.

'Assoon 3480 the end of the, last stroke '(slow) of the. table to the right is completed, it now becomes necessary forthwith to reverse again and simultaneously speed up. to complete the first half stroke to the left.

This is done by a dog that trips the switch 26-40 and simultaneously energizing reverse box solenoid (changing to left drive) the clutch-switch solenoid m -so that the direction of the'motor and of the application-of the primary power are first both reversed and forthwlth the clutch switch B is thrown 'to disconnect the primary power and speed up the 'motor. This cycle of operations is thus automatically carried out independ ently of any hand operations by the attendant sotha't the machine is practically I continuously milling;

skipping rapidly from one piece to the other to save time; and

[during the slower milling periods enabling tion is'well adapted to achieve the objects the attendant to remove finished ished pieces. a i I It will thus be perceived that this invenand bolt on and ends indicated in theforegoing by a control system, that isvery simple consider-' its-manifold capacities and adaptabilitles. It is especially noteworthy that this systemperfectly harmonizes with the purely mechanical-controls in the sense that the shift elements are moved by solenoids which or mechanical mans. This isespecially advantageous since should the electrical becomederanged through an; cause A to a horizontal position closing the gap the mechanical control is still available for many purposes and the hand control for all purposes is still available.

This application is to be understood as being a division of my vco-pe nding application No. 749,292, filed' February 19', 1913. Y Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended v ithin the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.-

- Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the followingcombinations of elements, or equivalents thereof, 'by Letters Patent of/the United States 1; A control-system of the nature d-is-' closed combining a travelingsupport, a cut:

ter spindle, power-driven means for simulneously rotating said spindle and slowly feeding said support, an" auxiliary motor adapted to feed said support rapidly, means operative at a predetermined station in the,

travel of said support automatically to dis engage said power-driven means from both said spindle and said support, and for then 'establishing'a propelling relation between said motor and said support whereby said support will return to its initial position while saidspindle is idle.

3. A control system of the naturedis closed combining a travelingsupportra' revolving spindle, ower-driven meansforac-I tuating both 'sai spindle: andssaid support'y an auxiliary motor adapted to a t at -5. 1113; said support, and clutch mechanism rfdis,

engaging said means fromboth js spindle} and support for-enabling'said j no alone;

to propel said support" 1 4a A control system of the ;.nature dis;

closed combining a travelingsupport, a spin-,1 dle, -a power-driven member, ar"magnetie\- port and spindle, an electric 'motor,'jfandx jclutch for establishinga driving;connection between said--;,- niember. and both said sup: 3

circuit-controller operated by said support for rendering said clutch inoperative and for simultaneously energizing said electric motor.

5.- A. control-system of the nature disclosed combining a traveling support, a spindle, a power-driven member, a magnetlcclutch for establishing a driving connection between said member and both said, suport and spindle, an electric motor, a clutch 5 or connecting said support with'said memher, and a circuit controller operated by said last-mentioned clutch for denergizing said motor when said member is connected with said support. I 4

6. A control-system of the nature 1 disclosed combining a rotary cutter spindle; a

- work support adapted to travel in a direction transverse to the axis of said cutter spindle; power driven means for simultaneously rotating said spindle and slowly advancing said support; trip mechanism operative at a predetermined station in the travel of said support to automatically disconnect said power driven means from said, spindle to cause it to stop; and means enabling said support to be retreated while sai7d spindle remains idle.

control-system -of the nature dis- 7 closed combining a rotary cutter spindle; a

= work support adapted to travel in a 'direc-' tion transverse to the axis ofsaid "cutter meme-74,

closed combining a rotary cutter spindle; a

work support adapted to travel in a direction transverse to the axis of said cutter spindle; power driven means for simultaneously rotating said spindle and slowly advancing said support; trip mechanism operative at a predetermined station in the travel of said support to automatically disconnectfsaid power driven means from said spindle to cause it to stop; and means adapted to be manually operated. to cause said support to return to its initial position while said spindle is idle.

In wltness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the two subscribing witnesses.

' ADOLPH L. DE'LEEUW'.

Witnesses: a C. FLITTNER, Jr.,

E. F.\OSTERMAN. 

